PROJECTION: Hurricane IRMA to Slam East Coast with 188 MPH Winds! (6 Ways to Prepare Now for Hurricanes)

UPDATED AT 5:52 6:56 PM EDT SEE BOTTOM — Hurricane IRMA is out in the Atlantic Ocean, heading from Africa toward North America. It strengthened from a "Tropical Storm" to a "Category 2 Hurricane" in 24 hours. Now, a computer model (projection) is showing IRMA slamming into the US East Coast around Virginia, with . . . . 188 mile per hour winds!

This is just ONE computer model/projection. IT MAY NOT BE RIGHT. But one thing that ALL the computer models are showing is that wherever it goes, it will be INTENSELY POWERFUL:

It's just too early to tell where this storm will actually go. Right now, there are two GENERALIZED possible paths:

Folks all along the US Eastern Seaboard absolutely MUST keep a close eye on this storm.

Many of the computer models are showing an east coast impact. Several of those models also show Category 5 strength, with winds exceeding 140 MPH, below.

Wherever this storm hits, it's going to be very VERY bad.

Frustratingly, we won't know more about where this storm is heading until around September 4.

I will keep you updated.

Having gone from a Tropical Storm to a Category 2 Hurricane in ONE day, IRMA has now become a Category 3 Hurricane is LESS THAN ONE DAY!

Worse, new computer models are showing a DIRECT HIT into South Carolina, just south of the border with North Carolina, then smashing its way all the way up to New Jersey and New York City! See projection below:

Just got off the phone with a Climate Specialist (Doctor) who told me . . . and I quote:

"For What It's Worth, one of our models shows possibility of sustained wind speed surpassing 215 mph, which would actually make Irma a Cat-7 using current guidelines.

The worst thing that people who live along coastlines can do is not to prepare for tropical storms and hurricanes.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the two key factors contributing to weather safety during hurricanes are preparing in advance for the risks and to act on those preparations when alerted by emergency officials.

The director of the National Hurricane Center, Rick Knabb, and AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski, outlined certain precautionary steps that people in areas impacted by hurricanes and tropical storms should take.

1. Evacuation planning

The main reason people have to evacuate during hurricanes is from a storm surge, which is an abnormal rise of water generated by a storm’s winds that can reach heights well over 20 feet and can span hundreds of miles of coastlines, according to the National Hurricane Center.

"Evacuation planning is number one on the list,” Knabb said.

Knabb urged that people find out today if they live in a hurricane evacuation area, which is an area in which residents must leave their homes in the event of a hurricane.

Local governments provide the public with information about evacuation areas and the evacuation plans, and Knabb recommended that people review this information in advance.

“Some people will actually test the evacuation route in good weather,” Kottlowski said. “Waiting until the day of the hurricane isn’t a smart idea since everyone will be in a heightened state of anxiety.”

While people who live in storm surge areas fall within areas that are urged to evacuate during a hurricane, people who live outside of these zones should still look into safety precautions during a hurricane.

Those who live in mobile homes and high rises may also have to evacuate even if they do not live in an evacuation area, Knabb said.

“It’s not just a beach front problem,” he added.

Pet owners should also have a evacuation plan for their pets. Many shelters offer places to keep pets.

2. Buy supplies

The most important thing that both Knabb and Kottlowski stressed was buying supplies well in advance and keeping those supplies on hand should evacuation be required.

“If you wait until the hurricane is on your doorsteps, you are going to be waiting in long lines and they could even be out of the stuff you need,” Knabb said.

Those living in evacuation areas should keep a hurricane kit handy that is stored in a way that is easy to grab and bring to an evacuation shelter.
While evacuation shelters do provide supplies, Kottlowski said, “Shelters can get overrun and may not have enough supplies."

These kits should include water, food, blankets and clothing.

Kottlowski said he recommends that residents have their kits bagged up in a suitcase or plastic tub.

3. Check insurance coverage

Property owners and renters should be sure to insure their homes against flooding, something that Knabb said many people do not realize is not a part of standard home and renters insurance.

Tenants and home owners can contact their renters or home insurance provider to buy flood insurance, and they should do so even if they do not live right along the coastline.

“People might think that if they don’t live on the coast, then they won’t have a flooding problem,” Knabb said. “But if it can rain, it can flood.”

Aside from keeping extra batteries and chargers around during a hurricane, people are also encouraged to backup any electronic devices.

Knabb said data should be stored at an off-site location so that data can be recovered if something were to happen to the physical computer or device during a hurricane.

Businesses should take particular caution in backing up information and sending that information to a remote site.

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